Unlock Urban Scenes: Drawing People with Simple Shapes

There's a joy in watching a scene come alive under your pen, isn’t there? It’s that feeling of translating the world around you onto paper, capturing a moment in time. Sometimes, though, the act of drawing figures can feel…daunting. We get caught up in anatomy, perspective, and the fear of getting it “wrong.” But what if I told you there was a way to loosen up, to embrace a more playful and expressive approach?

SketchingScottie, in this wonderful video, offers exactly that. He demonstrates a brilliant technique for drawing people within an urban setting, focusing on construction with simple geometric lines. This isn’t about painstaking realism; it’s about laying down the foundational blocks for a dynamic and engaging scene. Think of it as a sculptor roughing out the form before adding the details – a beautiful parallel to how we approach a still life or a landscape.

What I love most about this approach is how it prioritizes feeling. The initial shapes aren’t meant to be perfectly accurate; they’re a guide, a skeleton upon which you can build a more expressive inking style. Notice how Scottie uses a B pencil for the initial construction – a softer grade allowing for easy adjustments and a more organic feel. It’s a reminder that the early stages of any drawing are about exploration, about finding the life within the form.

Then comes the inking. Scottie’s use of a Pentel Colour Brush Pen adds a wonderful energy to the piece. See how he varies the line weight, creating a sense of depth and movement? It’s a lesson in composition—leading the viewer’s eye through the scene using the strength and direction of your lines. Think of it like directing a play; you're guiding the audience's attention.

The addition of value, the play of light and shadow, is another critical element. Scottie demonstrates how contrasting areas and subtle shading can dramatically enhance the form and add visual interest. It's a simple principle, but a powerful one – a fundamental lesson from the masters of chiaroscuro like Rembrandt.

If you’re new to figure drawing, or simply looking for a fresh approach, this video is a fantastic resource. It’s a reminder that drawing doesn’t have to be intimidating; it can be a joyful, expressive process. It’s a great exercise for your sketchbook – practice building simple forms, experimenting with line weight, and letting your creativity flow. This is the kind of practice that Andrew Tischler encourages—building a foundation of understanding through deliberate, iterative sketching.

For those of you working with clay, consider how this principle of building from simple forms applies to sculpture. Start with a basic block, a sphere, a cylinder, and gradually refine the shape to achieve your desired form. This is a core tenet of many ceramic and sculptural processes.

And for those of you who enjoy the Benny and Rocky decorating competitions—imagine the possibilities! Building simple forms to create playful characters and scenes for your decorations—it's a fantastic way to bring joy and artistry into the world.

If you're keen to deepen your understanding, Scottie’s Patreon offers in-depth tutorials and personalized feedback. Or, check out his Domestika courses (use code ‘sketchingscottie-10’ for a discount!).

Ready to join the Rogue Artists community? Find an Art Angel near you to guide your practice, book a workshop to connect with fellow creatives, list your studio to share your work, or claim your creator profile to showcase your artistry. Let’s keep the hands-on, offline-together approach alive!